Oscillating trench-machine.



J. C. FRENCH. OSCILLATING TRENCH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915- I v 1,239,9'K PatentedSept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- J. C; FRENCH. OSCILLATING TRENCH MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEEF 2.

J. C. FRENCH. OSCILLATING TRENCH MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, |9I5.

'aaeaeea 4 UNITED snares Parana ora ion JAMES o. FRENCH, or KENOSHA, Wisconsin, ns'srenoa- TO rn nnnnrcn o. .atisrrn,

or CHICAGO, rumors.

QSCTLLATING TRENCH-MACHJ1NE Specification of Iietters Patent.

Patented Sept. llll, 19170 Application filed March 22, 1915. Serial No. 16,302.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ll, JAMES C. FRENoH, a

citizen of the United States of America, and

resident of Kenosha, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, 510 Exchange street, have invented a certain new and-useful Improvement in Oscillating Trench-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trenching machines of that kind in which an endless series of digging buckets is arranged to operate continuously in the ground and thereby cut a trench While the machine moves'slowly ahead in the direction desired for the trench.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of this character'in which pro- 4 back and forth sidewise and thereby enable lines.

the machine to cut a much wider trench than is ordinarily possible in a machine of this kind having only'a forward movement during the operation of the buckets.

t is also-an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efficiency and desirability of an oscillating trench machine of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an oscillating trench machine embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan of said machine, showing the oscillating movement thereof in dotted Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of the reversing gear mechanism by which the upper body or turntable is automatically oscillated about a vertical axis during the operation of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan View, on a still larger scale, of the automatic tripping devices by which the clutches are operated to reverse the oscillation of the turntable.

As thus illustrated, my invention coma E prises a lower body frame A supported on front steering wheels a and rear tractionv decaterpillars B, the

vices B, the latter being What are ordinarily known as caterpillars, or of any other suitable character. The main body frame or turn-table C is provided with wheels 0 that travel in curved tracks D mounted on the lower body frame,- whereby the said turntable oscillates about a vertical axis at 03 while the machine is in operation, as will hereinafter more fully appear. At its rear endthe turn-table G is provided with a frame w upon which is mounted a drive shaft E extending transversely'of the machine and supported in suitable bearings thereon. An engine F is supported" upon the forward portion of the turn-table C and connected by a belt 7 with a wheel G, the latter being mountedon-a shaft g suitably supported on the upper body frame. A. sprocket chain H and suitable sprockets are employed as the medium of power transmitting connection between the shaft E and the shaft 9, it being understood that suitable clutches may be employed for controlling this driving connection between the engine and the shaft E, and the invention is not limited to any particular arrangement for this purpose. It will also be understood that gearing of any suitable character can be employed for connecting the engine with the power transmitting connection in this case preferably including, however, a vertical shaft extending down- Ward at al, whereby the oscillation of the turn-table does not interfere with the trans mission of power to the caterpillars.

The swinging digging beam or bucket frame I is suitably supported at'its upper end on the shaft E, and is arranged at the rear end of'the machine, this shaft E being supported by the frames 0 (one at each side of themachine) which extend rearward at opposite sides of said beam, so that the beam is held or maintained in line with the body C when the latter swings the beam from one side to the other. The digging buckets J are suitably supported on sprocket chains j which travel over upper and lower sprockets K and L at the upper and lower ends of the digging beam, the sprockets K being suitably secured and spaced apart on the shaft in the usual and well known manner. The idlers M are mounted on supplemental frames m secured on the back of the dig-1 ging beam I, and are arranged in position to support the sprocket chains j and cause the descending buckets to have a vertical path of travel from the surface of the ground to the bottom of the trench. 'The ascending buckets, of course, have an inclined path of travel, when the digging beam I is in normal operating position. Said buckets are secured to the chains only at' 0 their forward ends, whereby each bucket tilts outward as it starts to pass over the shaft E, thereby discharging the contents or load upon the transversely arranged conveyer N arranged at therear end of the machine in the usual wellknown manner. A

supplemental frame 0 is rigidly secured to the upper portion of the digging beam 1,

and the upper end of this frame is suitably connected with a vertically disposed screw P, whereby rotation of this screw willserve to tilt the digging beam I about the horizontal' axis provided at its upper end. In

this way, the beam I and the buckets J can be swung upward to a position above ground in the usual and well known manner. Any

suitable means can be employed for rotating the screw P, as for example'by ear con necting its lower end with the sha t g, and

by providing suitable clutches for controlling the transmission thus provided and thereby reversing the rotation of the screw P at will. The buckets K are in operation at the same time that the caterpillars B are operated to move the machine slowly forward. This, it will be understood, results in the cutting of a trench of substantially the same width as the buckets.

' In order, however, that the machine may be e'mployedfor making a trench of greater 40 width than the buckets, the body C or turntable is oscillated during the operation of the buckets, and in this way the said buckets are moved back and forth sidewise, during the forward movement of the machine, with the result that the trench is widened to the desired extent. For this purpose the buckets may be constructed and arranged to cut on the sides of the trench, as well as straight ahead, and at such time it will be observed that the descending buckets after passing the idlers M operate on the sides of the trench in a manner to leave the latter exactly vertical, or substantially so, after the machine has traveled forward. The machine may, however, have 'any suitable arrange-' g and '1- secured to the underside of the turntable, said gears being mounted in suitable bearings on the lower body frame. A longitudinal shaft S is connected at its opposite ends by a bevel gearing s with the said worm gears. The reversing bevel gears T and t are loose on said shaft and are rotated in opposite directions by bevel gear 6 suitably connected to be driven from the axis d or center about which the turn-table oscillates while in operation. Clutches 1 and 2, of any suitable character, are employed for connecting the bevel gears P and 1), respectively, with shaft S, whereby the latter may be rotated in either direction, depending upon which clutch is open and which clutch is closed. The said clutches are suitably connected with a horizontally disposed lever arm, U, suitably supported on the lower body-frame, the arrangement being such that vibration of this lever arm from side to 35 side .willl open one clutch and close the other, and vice versa, thereby causing the shaft S to rotate first in one direction and then in the other. In order that the oscillat- A ing turn-table may itself accomplish this automatic reversal of the shaft S, the arm.

U is pivotally connected with arod we having its ends pivotally connected, respectively, with the bell cranks V and W, the latter being suitably pivoted on the lower body frame. A compression spring telescoping connection '0 is provided in the rod u be tween the bell crank V and the arm U, and a similar connection w is provided between the said arm and the bell crank W at the other end. The catches X and Y are suitably pivoted on the lower body frame and arranged to alternately engage the locking ,end,portion Z of the lever arm. A rod 33. connects the catch. X with the bell crankV, and a similar rod 4 connects the catch Y with the bell crank W, and these rods each have a-telescoping or lost motion connection 5 suitably incorporated in the same at points between the ends thereof. Pins 6 and 7, see Fig. 4, are mounted on the underside of the turn-table and disposed in positiontoengage the arms 8 and 9, respectively, of the two bell cranks. As shown, the pin 7 has approached the bell crank W, thereby compressing the spring connection to at a time when the portion Z was in locking engagement with the catch Y, it being understood that the telescoping connection 5 of the rod 4 permitted the bell crank W to compress the spring connection '11: without disengaging the catch Y from the portion Z, and without releasing thelatter. The final movementof the bell crank W, when engaged by the pin 7 serves to disengage the catch Y, masmuch as the lost motion of the connection 5 in the rod 4 is taken up a little before the said bell crank reaches the limit of its motion. -As soon as the catch Y is dlsengaged from the portion Z, the compressed spring Latest? w then quickly shifts the rod U to the left,

thereby operating the lever arm U and causing a reversal of the clutches l and 2 in t a manner to reverse the rotation of the shaft ment of the turn-table upon. which the engine F, digging beam l[, and other operating elements, are all mounted in the manner-previously described, serves to automatically reverse the power transmitting connections by which the engine operates the turn-table, whereby this oscillating movement will continue during the forward movement of the machine. The previously described widening of the trench is thus accomplished automatically,

With the foregoing construction, it will be seen that the buckets oscillate about a vertical axis which is disposed a distance in advance of the digging beam, so that all of the axes of movement of the said digging beam are in advance of the excavating operation. The horizontal axis E is ahead of the buckets which are in action, and the vertical axis provided by, the turn-table is some dis tance ahead of this horizontal axis, whereby the buckets are movable up and down and sidewise about axes which are ahead of the digging operation, and which remain so as the machine moves forward. In this way, the upwardly traveling buckets operate on the breast of the excavation, while the downwardly traveling buckets operate on the sides of the trench, in the manner shown and described. A

Thus the trench is much wider than the buckets, and the descending buckets cut away the dirt first at one side of the trench and then at the other.

However, do not, of course, limit myself to the exact construction shown and described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An excavator for making trenches or ditches, comprising an endless series of digging buckets, an inclined frame for supporting said buckets in position to operate in the ground, mechanism for operating said bucket, means for propelling the machine forward during the operation of the buckets, in the direction desired for the trench or ditch, a power-plant to operate said mechanism and means, and instrumentalities in forward during the operation of the buckets, and instrumentalities including a turn-table eluding a turn-table upon which said frame and mechanism and power-plant are supported for oscillating movement about a vertical axis disposed a distance ahead of the digging point to give the buckets in action a back-and-forth sidewise motion behind said axis, so that the trench will be wider than the buckets, and whereby the descending buckets cut away the dirt first at one side of the trench and then at the other, said excavator having means to insure operation of said buckets in such manner that the angle of said frame will not leave the trench with .overhanging sides.

2. An excavator comprising an endless series of digging buckets, a frame for supporting said buckets in position to operate in the ground, mechanism for operating said buckets, means for propelling the machine upon which said frame and mechanism are supported for oscillating movement about a vertical axis disposed a distance ahead of the ,i I I I digging point to give the buckets in action a back and forth sidewise motion behind said axis, so that the trench will be wider than the buckets, and whereby the descending buckets cut away the dirt first at one side of the trench and then at the other, said ex- 9 cavator having means to insure operation of said buckets in such manner that the angle of said frame will not leave the trench with, overhanging sides, said frame being mounted to swim "upand down about a horizontal axis exten ing transversely of the machine. 3. An excavator comprising an endless series of digging buckets, a frame for supporting said buckets in position to operate in the ground, mechanism for operating said 195 buckets, means for propelling the machine forward during the operation of the buckets, and instrumentalities including a turn-table upon which said frame and mechanism are supported for oscillating movement about a 1 0 vertical axis disposed a distance ahead ofthe digging point to give the buckets in action a back and forth sidewise motion behind said axis, so that the trench will be wider than the buckets, and whereby the de-- scending buckets cut away the dirt first at one side'of the trench and thenat the other, said excavator having means to insure operation of said buckets in such manner that forward during the operation of the buckets,

and instrumentalities including a turn-table upon which said frame and mechanism are supported for oscillating movement about a vertical axis disposed a distance ahead'of the digging point to give the buckets in action a back and forth sidewise motion behind said axis, said frame having means for 'causing the descending buckets to have a I buckets means for propelling the machine forward during the operation of the buckets, and instrumentalities including a turn-table upon which said frame and mechanism are supported for oscillating movement about a vertical axis disposed a distance ahead of the digging point to give the buckets in action a backand forth sidewise motion behind said axis, said buckets being arranged to form a trench, and means for reventmg the sidewise motion of the buc rets from under-cutting the sides of the trench.

6. An excavator comprising an endless series of digging buckets, a frame for supporting said buckets in position to operate in the ground, mechanism for operating said buckets, means for propelling the machine forward during the operation of the buckets, and instrumentalities including a turn-table upon which saidframe and mechanism are supported for oscillating movement about a vertical axis disposed a distance ahead of the digging point to 've the buckets in action back and forth sidewise motion behind said axis, so that the trench will be wider than the ries of digging buckets, a frame for supporting said buckets in position to operate in the ground, mechanism for operating said buckets, means for propelling the machine forward during the operation of the buckets, and instrumentalities including a turn-table upon which said frame and mechanism are supported for oscillating movement about a vertical axis disposed a distance ahead of the digging point to give the buckets in action a back and forth sidewise motion behind said axis, so that the trench will be wider than the buckets, and whereby the descending buckets cut away the dirt first at one side of the trench and then at the other,'said excavator having means to insure operation of said buckets in such manner that the angle of said frame will not leave the trench with overhanging sides, said mechanism including sprocket chains to which said buckets. are secured, upper and lower sprockets for said chains, the upper sprockets having a shaft forming a horizontal axis of pivotal adjustment for said .frame.

8. An excavator comprising an endless series of digging buckets, a' frame for supporting said buckets in position to operate in the ground, mechanism for operating said buckets, means for propelling the machine forward during the operation of the buckets, and" instrumentalities including a turn-table upon which said frame and mechanism are supported for oscillating movement about a vertical axis disposed a distance ahead of the digging point to give the buckets in action a back and forth sidewise motion behind said axis, so that the trench will be wider than the buckets, and whereby the descending buckets cutaway the dirt firstat one side of the trench and then at the other,

. said excavator having means to insure operation of said buckets in such manner that the angle of said frame will not leave the.

trench with overhanging sides, said buckets having a dumping position at thehighest portion of their path of travel, and a conveyer disposed below said position and supported on said turn-table.

9. An excavator comprising an endless series of dumping buckets, a frame for supporting said buckets in position to operate in the ground, mechanism for operating said buckets, means for propelling the machine forward during the operation of the buckets, and instrumentalities including a turntable upon which said frame and mechanism are supported for oscillating movement about a vertical axis disposed a distance ahead of the digging point to give the buckets in action a back and forth sidewise motion behind said axis, said buckets having a triangular path of travel, the triangle being disposed with the long side thereof inclined forward, the lower rear side of this triangle being vertical, and said buckets traveling up the inclined side and down the vertical side.

10. An excavator comprising an endless series of digging buckets, a frame for supporting said buckets in position to operate in the ground, mechanism for operating said buckets, means for propelling the machine forward during the operation of the buckets, and instrumentalities including a turn-table upon which said frame and mechanism are supported for oscillating movement about a vertical axis disposed a distance ahead of and forth sidewise motion be-"' Wider than the buckets,'and whereby the descending buckets'cut away the dirt first at one side of the trench and then at the other,

said excavator having means to insure operation of said bi lckets in such manner that, the angle of sa1d frame will not leave the trench with overhanging sides, and adjustable means for holding said frame in fixed relation to said turn-table during the oscil- M lation thereof.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 20th day of March 1915.

- JS 0. FRENUH.

Witnesses:

. RACHEL J. RICHARDSON,

Home E. SEHNENL 

